<p>S (HS Junior at a Fine Arts School) is still exploring, thinking about, researching, etc, the pros and cons of various schools, and thinking about the role that he wants music to play in his college life. Still on the table for discussion is the idea of a great liberal arts college with a good music program where he could major or double major in music and something else (current contenders are math, physics, French). He is a very accomplished trumpet player (mostly jazz) with a possible yen towards composition.</p>
<p>Reed seems like it might be a good fit personality-wise with my son (though we will see what his ACT scores end up :P), but my concern is the level of music there. Does anybody have any input, knowledge, etc, about what the level of the Music Dept is at Reed? I've looked at the website and am not finding much in the way of information. </p>
<p>I wasn't sure whether or not I should post this in the Reed forum also...</p>
<p>Aside from Reed I’d say Oberlin is one of the best liberal arts colleges and has one of the finest conservatories out there. the double degree program is really popular and you can choose really whatever you want.</p>
<p>I live in Portland and although I don’t know much about reed it’s a decent city for music. I personally want to get far far away but that’s because I’ve been here so long. There’s some great jazz clubs around and it’s a fun city especially for young people, but not so big that it’s overwhelming for people who aren’t used to the city.</p>
<p>If your son has a “Reed” personality, Oberlin would probably be a good fit. You might also want to look into Swarthmore, similar to Reed in intellectual rigor and intensity. Students can study privately in Philadelphia for credit (I know mostly the classical scene, can’t speak for jazz.)</p>
<p>Thanks, we are looking at Oberlin fairly seriously. We went to an Oberlin Preview presentation last week and got some good information, and we’re visiting the campus right before Thanksgiving. </p>
<p>BUt we have also been looking to see if there were any other LAC’s with a similar vibe and a good music program. I know that Oberlin excels at both, and we won’t find another school exactly like it, but it might be that DS would be fine at a school with great academics and a good (if not a great) music program. </p>
<p>Plus Reed is in Portland and we love the Pacific Northwest. I guess I was asking if any of the music people here had any info–plus or minus–about the level of the Reed music department.</p>
<p>I’m also from Portland, and have a son who is studying jazz at Oberlin, and AM fairly familiar both with Reed and with the local jazz scene. While Portland is a great jazz city, Reed doesn’t participate in it. Portland State has a better jazz department by far. Lewis & Clark has a good music dept., not so much jazz.</p>
<p>S is in the orchestra at Vassar and once again the concert was fantastic. Genuine enthusiasm for the performance was felt by everyone in the hall. I have commented before on the strength of music at Vassar. S is also in the jazz band but I have not heard them play yet. I can’t comment on Reed but Vassar may be similar in vibe - perhaps others know better. S is a physics and music major. Feel free to PM me if you want more info. </p>
<p>Another option may be University of Vermont. Ray Vega (NY jazz and Latino trumpeter) went up there to teach a few years ago and S had an audition with him Ray Vega was just wonderful. There may be a similar vibe to Reed at UVM. A lot colder weather though!</p>